Frameless slide and fold doors in a new build home

There are many advantages to purchasing a new build home with housing development still active all over the UK.

In buying a new build home, buyers benefit from the 10-year NHBC warranty that covers structural issues. Some developers even provide their own warranty in addition to NHBC for a shorter period. New homes are usually constructed to the latest specification with the latest home appliances, plumbing and wiring and construction. Repairs to new build homes should not be needed for many years.

A new build home comes very much like a blank canvas with buyers being able to customise parts of the house to suit their requirements. The other advantage of new build homes is energy efficiency, with the very latest in thermal insulation and modern windows and doors. In most cases these are PVCu.

Frameless bifolding doors installed in brand new Redrow home.

Archers Park in Sittingbourne, Kent is one of the latest Redrow homes development with a selection of three and four bedroom houses for sale.

One homeowner has recently purchased one of these new Redrow homes in Kent and decided to add more light, space and functionality to their sitting room.

Redrow Homes had fitted to the property, a four-panel PVCu patio door set which was replaced with a three panel set of frameless bifolding doors.

The limitations of PVCu patio doors explained.

While the new patio door set is secure, energy efficient and latest generation PVCu, it does come with some compromises.

The original patio door arrangement consists of the two central leaves, sliding behind the fixed panes. The effect of this is that in the warm summer months in Kent, less than 50% of the sliding door set will be open.

The design of even the latest generation PVCu sliding patio doors provides some of the thickest sight lines on the market. Some sliding doors can have vertical mullions of nearly 200mm meaning much smaller glass area, heavy static mullions and loss of light.

The other limitation with new patio doors is the big ‘step-over’ required at the threshold. Most patio door systems as standard provide a threshold height of over 100mm. For homeowners desiring a seamless transition between the inside and out, conventional patio door thresholds are not ideal.

Why frameless bifolding doors are better than PVCu patio doors.

By replacing the new patio doors with a better set of frameless bifolding doors, the homeowner has instantly improved the room.

The frameless bifolding doors firstly give greater functionality. This particular set of frameless doors comprises an access leaf, making quick access out to the garden possible. An access leaf on a frameless bifolding door works just like a hinged door that will be much more convenient than having to slide back a patio door. It can simply be opened and shut without having to fold the remaining panels back.

The frameless bifolding door has done away with the thick central mullion of over 200mm where the PVCu door panels meet in the middle, replacing them with a sight line no bigger than the average adult thumb.

The fitting of a new frameless bifolding door has reduced the size of the head, side and threshold profiles substantially providing a much slimmer aluminium frame all round compared to the PVCu sliding patio door. Better still, the threshold has reduced significantly to provide a minimal step over compared to the original plastic door.

70% bigger glass panels with frameless bifolding doors.

By far the best visual effect is the loss of the thick chunky outer frame and visible mullions of the original patio door. The frameless door instantly provides a better aspect out to the garden.

In fact, when compared to a standard patio door, the glass sizes on a frameless bifolding door are up to 70% wider than a conventional PVCu patio door!